Daily Scripture

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Luke 5:33-39

Reflection:

When we interact with loved ones, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the media, we swim around in the sea of our own culture. We absorb the prevailing norms, values, and traditions of the culture in which we live. Like fish, we take the cultural sea for granted, and we feel comfortable fitting in with the expectations of those we love, those we live with, and those with whom we work. Today’s Scripture readings warn us about getting too comfortable in our lives; we are asked to be ready to transcend our expectations of self, others, and our culture for the sake of the Gospel.

The first reading for today is part of a letter from St. Paul to the newly formed Christian community in Corinth. The community there had some practices and traditions that were not in keeping with a Christian lifestyle, and Paul challenges them to go against their own culture (and sometimes people they love) for the sake of a life in Christ. To encourage them, he shares his own attitude:

“It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 4:3-4

The founder of the Passionists, St. Paul of the Cross, also saw his relationship with God and being in harmony with God’s will as the center of his life:

“Believe me, I live like an exile with no set place to live. My place and my repose is the most gentle will of my God. If God wants me here, I stay here. But if He wants me elsewhere, I will do His most holy will. As far as I can see, God wants me here for now, may He be blessed.~ St. Paul of the Cross

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is questioned because his disciples do not follow traditional Jewish practices of fasting and prayer. He responds with two parables in which he tells us: to follow Him is to be ready to give up the familiar and the conventional for the new and lifegiving. 

When and where am I counter-cultural for the sake of my relationship with Jesus and my living of Gospel values?

Patty Gillis is a retired Pastoral Minister. She served on the Board of Directors at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit. She is currently a member of the Laudato Si Vision Fulfillment Team and the Passionist Solidarity Network.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Luke 4:38-44

Reflection:

Happy Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time!

I’ve struggled with a phenomenon lately.  A force of nature, really… Something that vexes even the most prolific of writers and composers and creatives from time to time.  The reason these reflections have been so late recently…

Writer’s Block.

You might think that I’m never at a loss for words (no comments from the peanut gallery, please).  But lately, I’ve felt completely depleted.  Like a car out of gas, a dead battery, or an empty, withered balloon.  I’m just too pooped to pop!  If you know me at all you’ll know it’s true that there are many reasons I’ve gotten to this point.  I could easily go in to them, and at length, but they don’t really matter as much as the fact that it’s where I am now – and where do I go from here?

I would love to ask God to give me a Gas-Station for my heart.

wait…  why don’t I?

Today’s Gospel (Luke 4:38-44) picks just as Jesus had started his public ministry.  It was so fresh and new that Peter wasn’t even called Peter yet!  Jesus cures Simon’s (Peter’s) mother-in-law, after which she immediately got up and served them.  This was a catalyst because when the people heard about it, they brought all their sick and afflicted to him for healing.  Laying his hands on each of them, he cured them all.  After working all night long, he tried to retreat to a deserted place so he could pray and rest… but they followed him.  The crowds went looking for him.  He said, “To the other towns also must I go…for this purpose I have been sent.”  Jesus was sent to go to all people.

The people there had never seen nor heard of such amazing things being done, and they were just awestruck!  And what a contrast from the people in his hometown who couldn’t believe what was coming out of the mouth of the Carpenter’s Son, and so took him up to a mountain “so that they could throw him down headlong.”  (see Luke 4:16-30)

And now they’re in full view of a new image of God:  one who lives among them, in reach and findable.  He’s completely inclusive, fully healing, totally understanding, and ridiculously accessible… all we have to do is ask!

Jesus went to a deserted place so that he might find time to be alone with God.  Do we do the same?  When was the last time you created a moment of quiet so that God might come to meet with you? 

We need our moments of stillness to reflect and pray – to anchor ourselves and to allow God to fill us with his great love –  so much love that we are an overflowing cup, spilling out love on all the friends who are suffering…  And in this way, we can bring them to Jesus — and bring Jesus to them.

Today, in a moment of desperate frustration with myself, I put everything down, shut everything off, sat alone, and reserved time to call out to God for a meeting… and there he was, whispering, “I am here, beloved.  Let me fill you up.”

So I challenge you to give it a shot.  Feeling tired and used up?  Take a moment and put your devices away.  Find your Spazio Sacro (sacred space), and meet the God who loves you there… and let your heart free to soar.

Loving God,
please allow me to come to you,
for I am tired and burdened from my labor. 
Give me rest (Matthew 11:28). 
Lead me by the still waters,
and let me lie down in green pastures.
Refresh my weary soul. 
Fill my cup to overflowing, (Psalm 23) 
so that, like Peter’s mother-in-law,
I can rise from my affliction and have all I need
to share your great love with everyone I meet. Amen.

Peace and love to you all today, and forever.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the Retreat Team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 2:10b-16
Luke 4:31-37

Reflection:

I often wonder how we would react if Jesus was physically with us today and called out unclean spirits in front of us. Some have been fortunate to see his miracles in their lives. And we, if we allow it, we can see a vast amount of miracles in our everyday life. Today, more than ever, we need to trust in the power of Jesus throughout our day and in all circumstances. 

Jesus spoke with great power and authority. Who truly speaks with Godly authority for us today? My pastor, for one, is an excellent example of a Godly man who understands the power of Christ in this world, and who understands the power of the evil one as well. Without these strong role models in our lives, we can find it very easy to allow our thoughts to be driven into dark places, away from the love and mercy of Christ.

We must ask Jesus for the grace to understand the multitude of parables and teachings that we read about today. Our bibles need to be dog-eared and worn from the constant, daily use of them in our homes. We must recognize that Jesus is our salvation, from his life, death and resurrection – his very Passion should drive us to a life of holiness and grace. 

Divine Mercy prayers focus on the phrase, “Jesus, I trust in you”. We should, unwaveringly, keep him as our focus and our mainstay. God bless you all.

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas. 

Scripture:

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14:1, 7-14

Reflection:

Our readings today challenge us to be more humble and less demanding of others.  As much as we would like it to be at times, it’s not all about us!  I don’t exactly know the reasons behind this, but over the past few months, there have been multiple events and issues that have led me to feel very humbled and grateful at the same time.  Our sisters and brothers in eastern Kentucky have suffered and continue to suffer from the effects of the devastating flooding.  They have lost home and family, job and a sense of security.  Yet, in the midst of the heartbreak they continue to give thanks for the blessings they have.  When I saw a picture of a small barefoot child walking down a mud-covered road that had once been a busy county road, I felt humbled and embarrassed for the times I complain that work crews slow my travel down just doing their job to provide safe roads to travel along.  It will be a long time before the roads in eastern Kentucky will offer safe passage for so many!

I walked with another friend who was suffering with depression and PTSD!  He was unable to take care of his family for several days as he tried desperately to crawl back from that black hole that held him captive!  As I prayed for him and helped his family cope with the rough days, I reflected on how whiney I can be when I’m having what I consider a ‘bad’ day!  Wow! A humbling experience!  We are such a blessed people!

I had the privilege recently to visit a friend who lost his foot to diabetes after many years of suffering and pain.  He has a prosthesis and is getting more mobile each day and looks and feels better than he has in years.  Through all of this transition and health woes, he continues to pastor a small country parish that is fighting to stay alive. I believe his faith in action helps give his people hope to keep on keeping on!  One night he shared with us the specifics of his amputation and recovery and his daily routine he follows just to get ready to meet each new day. Another humbling experience!  I find myself complaining a lot less about any minor aches and pains I may be experiencing!

Every day as I drive around the streets of Louisville, I observe so many homeless and hungry people at our intersections and highways.  I know some will say they probably aren’t really homeless or hungry, that they are scamming or whatever.  That may be true, I don’t know or care about that.  But what humbles me is the tenacity and courage it takes one to put themselves out there in the first place day after day! I am humbled to tears oftentimes as I lay in bed each night thinking of these folks and wonder what has brought them to this point in their life!?

In the book of Sirach, we read: “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.  Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”

God Is Good All the Time!  And all the Time, God Is Good!  May we continue to find favor with the Lord as we allow the poor and downtrodden, the sick and alienated children of God to show us how to live a life of true humility!  Amen!  

Theresa Secord retired as a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 25:1-13

Reflection:

The reading from Matthew 25:14-30 has always stumped me – until today. If you think of this reading as a parable, try to envision the talent differently – in those days a heavy metal, usually gold or silver. So, if you have one gold bar as one talent, that’s pretty heavy! Now think of those distributions as the weight of holiness from God himself – are they to be kept, planted in the ground for safe keeping? Or are they to be shared, as a loving gift to others to draw people closer to God? These gifts from God are meant to be shared, not hoarded and placed in safekeeping within ourselves. The sharing of the spirit of God will only grow when you actually share it, not hold it within yourself. 

Read the gospel reading from today again and imagine that those talents are the spiritual gifts from God. If we hold on to those gifts, they will vanish, and that is not what our God wants from us. Be Christ to others, share your gifts, and be that light in the darkness for someone else. 

I always laughed at the saying, “You can’t take it with you.” And, in the light of Christ, this couldn’t be more true when we are discussing the gifts he gave to us, and what we should do with them.

God bless you all.

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Matthew 24:42-51

Reflection:

“Stay awake!” 

One of my spiritual mentors told me once, that when you commit to staying awake, you better be sure you want to go down that path, because once you are awake, there is no going back.

The truth of this has struck home for me throughout my life. 

It was 1994 and my mom was dying of cancer.  She was at home and I had been traveling back and forth between Chicago and Cleveland to be with her and help care for her.  I was exhausted, and I remember a moment when I had lain down and all I wanted to do was sleep, but I needed to get up to give her her medication.  The memory is so vivid for me because it took all of my conscious will to “stay awake” and get up when every other fiber of my being was saying “rest, sleep.” 

When I reflected on it later, it was clear that love is the only thing that could have given me that strength.  My mom and I are connected by, and exist in, a love much larger than each of us individually, a love made completely manifest only in God.  Once we say “yes” to this love in our life, there is no going back. Once we say yes to the love freely given to us in the person and Passion of Jesus, there is no falling asleep. It sets us on the path toward being the “faithful and prudent servant” in Matthew’s gospel. And, as Paul says in today’s reading, “[Our Lord Jesus Christ] will keep us firm to the end.” 

What a wonderful promise.  The faithfulness of God and the incomprehensible love of Jesus frees us to act in love in situations that we would rather not be in, that are uncomfortable, that involve risk and loss.  Life is full of such situations–we don’t need to seek them out, they will find us.  On my good days, I am able to ask myself “In what situations in my life am I longing to sleep—or, perhaps, am actually sleeping?”

May God grant us all the grace to “stay awake!” and love.

Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Revelation 21:9b-14
John 1:45-51

Reflection:

Experiencing Jesus

Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.”  -John 1:45f    

Philip made one of the greatest acts of charity in his life!  He enabled Nathaniel to meet and experience Jesus.  There is a sign on an old pulpit in a New England church facing the preacher which quotes the Bible: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12:21 What a lovely reminder to the preacher that his main goal is to lead the people to the experience of Jesus!  

 There are many words in the Greek NT for encountering   Jesus.  The most obvious one is “come”.  “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.”  Or the lovely invitation of Jesus: ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. MT 11:28  The word come is used about 100 times in Mt Gospel.  The Greek word for come in some of these texts is deuro which has the idea of more closeness and perhaps should better be translated  “come here to Me”.

 A beautiful example is found in Mt 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met hupantaō them (women) and greeted them.   And they came up and took a stronghold of His feet and worshiped Him.” Mt 28:9 (Greek NT hupantaō 10 TIMES IN NT   is upo+anti = up close)

When one pauses to think of this Biblical word hupantaō meaning up and close one can feel these peoples’ intimacy with Christ!  This same word is used in John 12:18 ” For this reason also the people went and met hupantaō Him because they heard that He had performed this sign (raising of Lazarus),

Pope Francis, in The Joy of the Gospel, reminds us that each day is an opportunity for a personal encounter or experience with Christ. Every moment is a perfect time to “take a step toward Jesus [and] to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.” 

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.